50 Contronyms

 50 Contronyms

"Words that are their own opposites," contronyms (contranym is a variant spelling) are also known as Janus words, antagonyms, and autoantonyms. These are words that have developed contradictory meanings. 

1. Sanction - To permit or to penalize
2. Dust - To remove dust or to sprinkle dust
3. Left - Departed from or remaining behind
4. Seed - To plant seeds or to remove seeds
5. Weather - To withstand (as in "weather a storm") or to erode
6. Bound - tied/restricted from going
7. Clip - To attach or to cut off
8. Trim - To decorate or to remove excess
9. Cleave - To split apart or to cling together
10. Dusting - Removing dust or sprinkling powder
11. Fast - Quick or firmly fixed (immobile)
12. Apology - An expression of regret or a defense/justification
13. Strike - To hit or to miss (as in baseball)
14. Bolt - To secure in place or to flee quickly
15. Resign - To quit a job or to sign again
16. Finished - Completed or destroyed (as in "you're finished!")
17. Execute - To carry out (a task) or to kill
18. Help - To assist or to prevent (e.g., "I can't help it")
19. Screen - To display or to hide (as in screening a movie vs. screening from the sun)
20. Model - A replica to copy or an example to avoid
21. Trimmed - Decorated or reduced
22. Dusty - Covered with dust or lightly powdered
23. Sick - Ill or awesome (slang)
24. Go - To proceed or to collapse (e.g., "The engine just went")
25. Left off - Started again where you stopped, or excluded
26. Ravel - To tangle or to untangle
27. Out - Visible (e.g., stars are out) or invisible (lights are out)
28. Off - Not functioning or activated (e.g., "The alarm went off")
29. Lease - To rent out or to rent from someone
30. Oversight - Careful management or missed detail
31. Oversight - Careful supervision or an error from neglect
32. Sanguine - Cheerful or bloodthirsty · (rare but contrasting meanings)
33. Peer - Equal or to look closely
34. Out of - Lacking or originating from (e.g., "out of love")
35. Strike down - To nullify (a law) or to enforce (as in striking down dissent)
36. Wind up - To end or to get started (as in winding up a toy)
37. Rent - To pay for use or to rip apart
38. Throw out - To discard or to propose (e.g., an idea)
39. Scour - To search thoroughly or to scrub vigorously
40. Weathered - Withstood or worn down by exposure
41. Flog - To promote aggressively or to beat severely
42. Dust-off - To clean or to reuse something old
43. Stone - To pelt with stones or to remove stones (as in fruit)
44. Disciplined - Well-behaved or punished
45. Trip - To stumble or to travel
46. Consult - To offer advice or to ask for it
47. Trim down - To slim (reduce) or to enhance appearance
48. Pop - To suddenly appear or disappear
49. Blunt - To dull or to speak sharply
50. Hold up - To support or to delay